Save Yourself

As Jesus hung on the cross, His tormentors shouted, “come down from the cross and save yourself!” Mark 15:30 Of course He could have come down but in doing so, He would have thwarted the Father’s plan to redeem fallen mankind. The world’s motivation is to save ourselves at all costs. Look out for # 1. But I think this outlook has caused much havoc in churches, families, and many relationships.

When we ask Jesus Christ to become our Savior, we also join Him in His crucifixion. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me….” Galatians 2:20 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” Being ‘crucified with Christ’ means you die to yourself, having your own way, and being right all the time.

As Christ-followers, we face the same temptation Jesus did, coming down from our cross [spiritually] in an attempt to save self. The only place you can be victorious over sin and the devil is the cross. The cross is the devil’s ultimate defeat. As long as you are on your cross, Satan cannot reach you.

Many divorces are caused by one (or both) spouses demanding their own way; that is coming down from their cross

Many church splits occur because someone came down from their cross and refused to surrender their “rights.”

When a man watches porn on the internet late at night – he has come down from his cross.

When you exaggerate your performance to your boss – you have come down from your cross

Again, let me remind you; the moment you choose to come down from your cross to save yourself in any way; you become vulnerable to the devil’s attack. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23